Case for surgical instruments



I (NoMQdeL) R. W. JOHNSON.

CASE FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 543,991. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

' I 2y CQQWZaaom, 11mm trays.

UNTTED STATES T EN-T owes.

ROBERT W. JOHNSON, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

CASE ,FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,991, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed June 7, 1895. $erial No. 551,980. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cases for Surgical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to compartment-boxes,

and is intended for holding surgical instruments, and particularly bougies or catheters. These instruments are preferably made of a material known as soft gum, or of textile material coated with said soft gum, and when packed in contact with others of the same material they are liable to become stuck together and thus have their smooth surface roughened, and'consequently be spoiled for use, when subjected to the heat of the summer or when put in a warm place in a physicians office or in the drug-stores. I

These objects of my invention are to produce in connection with an inclosing box a simple and inexpensive but strong case or tray to hold said surgical instruments without danger of their becoming stuck together, but permitting the distinguishing features of each instrument to be examined without handling it or removing it from the tray. I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l isa perspective view of a surgical case or tray constructed in accordance with my invention, the front end of two catheters being shown therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box of suitable size to contain one of the trays. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through one of the trays, its inclosingbox, and its cover. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the cardboard bottom and partitions used in the construction of the In said drawings, B represents the bottom of the tray. It consists of a rectangular portion of a sheet of cardboard longer than any of the catheters c, or other instrument intended to be placed therein. Said bottom B has on one side another rectangular portion B preferably integral therewith, but of shorter length, that is wrapped alternately over and under pieces of metal or of wood, that are preferably rectangular, (but may be cylindrical,) to form therefrom a strip of corrugated paper B from which pockets b and b are obtained.

The bottom B of the tray constitutes the floor of the pockets b, while theinverted arches formed by the corrugated paper 13 constitute the floor of the pockets 19 The under side of the floor of the pockets b is glued or cemented to the upper surface of the bottom B of the tray, and thus retained in proper position upon said bottom B. The bottom B has also a rectangular portion B projecting from the side opposite the portion B that is creased and bent at b to constitute the top 13 0f the tray, and to the under side of said top the strip of corrugated paper B? is glued to properly brace the upperportion of the sides of the pockets 1) and o The edge of the top 13 is creased and bent at b, and the portion B is glued to the vertical side B Fig. i, of the corrugated paper, thus securing together all the sides of the tray. The pockets 1) and b are generally kept closed at one end by a strip of strong paper 19 glued to the sides of the tray.

After the tray is completed, any desired number of bougies or catheters c are placed in the pockets b and b and the tray, with its contents, is placed in a'box D, preferably of substantial pasteboard, made to fit around the sides of the tray, and of such depth as to receive either one tray alone, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, or two or more superposed trays, by making the box deeper, as shown by the dotted lines in said figure. The box is closed by means of a cover D of suitable construction.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination with a box D, a surgical instrument tray received therein and consisting of a sheet of cardboard having its central portion forming the bottom B of said tray longer than said surgical instruments, and its side portions B and B of shorter length, the side B being corrugated to form the sides of pockets, and the side B folded upon the corrugated side B to complete said pockets, the portions B, B and B being connected together substantially as described.

2. In combination with a box D, a surgical tom of said tray substantialiy as and for the instrument tray received therein, said tray purpose specified. 16 having its bottom longer than said instru- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature ments and its sides and top of shorter length, in presence of two witnesses.

5 and between said top, bottom and sides a ROBERT W. JOHNSON.

sheet of rigid material corrugated to consti- Witnesses: tute the sides of pockets, said sheet having H. G. DEWEY,

its corrugations cemented to the top and bot- I T. G. PHINNY. 

